[Prepare for evaluation…]
[Aspirant, your trial is complete.]
Sunny found himself suspended in a void of absolute darkness, above which stretched a vast tapestry of silver threads—each one woven into a complex lattice of shifting patterns and intersecting layers.
Threads of Fate.
Each shimmering filament was inscribed with a spell, representing the fate of a living being… and all of them interlocked in a breathtaking weave so intricate that Sunny's own thread resembled that of a beggar's.
[A caravan of slaves once traveled through the Black Mountains.
When night fell, the Mountain King descended upon them.
They believed the beast before them was the worst fate imaginable…
But they had forgotten the treacherous shadow that strikes from behind.
The slaves died.
The soldiers died.
And the Chosen of Fate was offered in sacrifice to the God of Death.
In a burst of longing to meet one of his kin, the God of Shadows blessed his descendant with an inheritance.]
[You have slain four Dormant beasts: Larvae of the Mountain King.]
[You have slain fifteen Dormant humans: Nameless.]
[You have slain one Awakened human: Auro of the Nine.]
[You have slain an Awakened Tyrant: the Mountain King.]
[You have slain an Ascended Demon: the Nameless Temple Warden.]
[You have received the Blessing and Grace of the Shadow God.]
[Final Evaluation: There are no limits to your potential!.
You have brought fantasy into reality!.
Your cunning shall be woven into legends.
The impossible bends to you to be taught a lesson.]
"…That last part wasn't necessary. I don't think I want that kind of fame," Sunny muttered, grimacing at the Spell's odd flattery.
"Still… looks like my evaluation went up. Just as planned."
He would've laughed—if only he could laugh in his sleep.
[Sunless Dreamer, receive your boon.]
[You have been granted a True Name… Herald of Death.]
[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Do you wish to proceed now?]
Sunny scowled.
"…What kind of stupid question is that?"
"Yes. Begin evolution."
[Dormant Aspect: Temple slave is evolving.]
[You have acquired a new Aspect.]
[Aspect Rank: Divine.]
"Now this is what I'm talking about. A divine Aspect and a different True Name… I just hope it's not Shadow Slave all over again."
[Aspect Name: Divine Shadow.]
[Aspect Description: You are a Divine shadow.
Moved by your struggle for freedom, the Shadow God took pity and gifted you His legacy, His power… and your freedom.
You exist without a master—your will is your own.
You are an independent shadow that have his own will .]
Innate Ability: [Embrace of Shadows]
[Ability Description: When you dwell within or near shadows, they embrace you—
doubling your physical strength, stamina, resistance to soul damage and mental attacks.
Your thought processes and healing speed are also doubled while in shadow]
"shadow God… you're making me want to preserve your corpse from corruption and clean it entirely," Sunny muttered.
But the voice of the Spell cut through his thoughts:
[First Seal: Broken.]
[Awakening Dormant Ability …]
Sunny felt something stir within him—not something foreign or new, but something ancient, lying dormant inside his soul… simply waiting to awaken.
It wasn't painful… just unfamiliar.
Power surged through his body, old and primal. A strength that came not from an external source, but from deep within.
As the turbulence faded and the seal fully broke, Sunny entered his Soul Sea.
A solitary black sun hovered above its vast expanse… but something had changed.
The shadows that once concealed the spirits of the dead had are not covered in a layer of deep shadows.
Now, he could see all of them clearly—ghostly humans, fallen followers of the Mountain King… and there, standing still with eerie peace, was the Mountain King himself.
In the distance, Sunny could sense the presence of the Nameless Warden, hidden from sight.
[Aspect Ability Awakened.]
[New Aspect Ability Acquired.]
[Ability Name: Shadow Control.]
"This… is excellent. Very excellent."
Sunny exhaled deeply, not realizing he'd been holding his breath ever since the Spell started speaking again.
He hadn't wanted the nature of his Aspect to change… it was already good.
[You have received a Trait.]
"…What?!" Sunny's eyes widened in surprise.
Name: Sunless
True Name: Herald of Death
Rank: Dormant
Core: Dormant
Shadow Fragments: [45/1000]
Memories: [Silver Bell], [Puppetmaster's Shroud], [Heavy Club], [Sage's Mantle], [Challenger's Heart], [Warden's Pendant]
Echoes: <>
Traits: [Fated], [Divine Spark], [Child of Shadows], [Blessed by the Shadow God]
[Every power comes with a price.]
[You have received a Flaw.]
"…Good. It's still the same flaw," Sunny said with a soft smile.
"I guess I fell in love with it by accident."
[Flaw: Peaceful Conscience.]
[Awaken… Herald of Death.]